Software · head to head
Etherscan vs FTX
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day; FTX the exchange collapsed and FTX Trading Ltd filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on 11 November 2022
- They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, FTX covers Futures Trading.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Etherscan and FTX actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Etherscan
- Block Explorer
- Transaction Tracking
- Token Tracker
- Contract Verification
- Gas Tracker
- Ethereum mainnet
- Testnets
- Api support
Only in FTX
- Futures Trading
- Options
- Leveraged Tokens
- Spot Trading
- FTT Token
- Serum DEX
- Ios support
- Android support
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Etherscan
- Looking up Ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorernot FTX
- Reading and verifying deployed smart contract source codenot FTX
- Pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer APInot FTX
FTX
- Exchangesnot Etherscan
- Derivativesnot Etherscan
- Tradingnot Etherscan
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Etherscan
- The free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day
- The free plan requires attribution and covers only selected chains rather than all supported chains
- API Pro endpoints are withheld below the Standard plan at $199 per month
- The $49 per month Lite plan raises the rate limit to only 5 calls per second and keeps the same 100,000 calls per day as the free tier
- Rate limits top out at 30 calls per second even on the $899 per month Pro Plus plan
- The Address Metadata endpoint requires Pro Plus at $899 per month and is limited to one app license
- Metadata CSV export and dedicated support are only in Metadata Enterprise, which is quoted by contact with no published price
- The 10% and 15% discounts apply only to quarterly and yearly prepayment
FTX
- The exchange collapsed and FTX Trading Ltd filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on 11 November 2022
- Around 130 affiliated companies including Alameda Research entered the same proceedings, with more than 100,000 creditors and assets and liabilities each between $10 billion and $50 billion
- Founder Sam Bankman-Fried resigned as CEO on the filing and was replaced by John J. Ray III
- It is not a service anyone can sign up for; the estate exists to repay creditors
Pricing, plan by plan
Etherscan
Free- FreeFree
- Block explorer
- 5 API calls/sec
- Basic analytics
- Standard$199/month
- 10 API calls/sec
- Advanced APIs
- Pro$399/month
- 30 API calls/sec
- Priority support
FTX
Free- StandardFree
- Spot trading
- Futures
- Options
Which should you pick?
Choose Etherscan if
- You need block explorer.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want transaction tracking.
Choose FTX if
- You need futures trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want options.
Questions people ask
- Is Etherscan or FTX better?
- Neither clearly leads. Etherscan starts at Free and FTX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Etherscan or FTX?
- Etherscan starts at Free and FTX at Free.
- Does Etherscan or FTX run on more platforms?
- Etherscan runs on Web, Api. FTX runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Etherscan for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Etherscan best used for?
- Etherscan is most often used for looking up ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorer, reading and verifying deployed smart contract source code, pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer api. Of those, looking up ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorer and reading and verifying deployed smart contract source code are not what FTX is typically brought in for.
- What can Etherscan do that FTX cannot?
- Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. FTX covers Futures Trading, Options, Leveraged Tokens, Spot Trading. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
FTX: What happened to FTX?
FTX filed for bankruptcy on November 11, 2022, after revelations about Alameda Research's massive holdings of FTX's token (FTT) triggered a liquidity crisis. The platform collapsed within days as a competing rescue deal fell through.
SourceFTX: Can I recover funds from FTX bankruptcy?
FTX has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since November 11, 2022. Customer funds have been subject to claims through the bankruptcy process, with asset recovery efforts ongoing.
Source